An annual PMC MA/MPhil Studentship is to be awarded to a UK-based student embarking on masters-level studies in the field of British art history. The studentship is part of the New Narratives set of funding opportunities designed to increase the diversity of perspectives among scholars within this field.
The studentship is an award of £32,000, and is designed to cover university fees and living costs.
As well as funding, recipients of the studentship will benefit from mentorship and guidance from Centre staff, and from the Doctoral Scholars and Early Careers Fellows elected under the same scheme.
The New Narratives scheme particularly welcomes applications from those who are under-represented within the academic field of the humanities in the UK, including, for example, individuals who identify as black, brown or people of colour.
This is a one-year academic studentship, specifically designed to support an individual whilst undertaking and completing a MA or MPhil in the area of British art history.
A single payment of £32,000 will be allocated to the successful applicant, in the September of the year they are undertaking their MA or MPhil programme.
The Centre’s Public Study Room will be open to the recipient to use as a working environment if required. The successful recipient will also be invited to attend the PMC’s academic events programme, and to participate in the Centre’s life more generally. Longer term, they will form part of a network of awardees who, both during and after their period of funding, will be affiliated with the PMC and who will be encouraged to use the Centre as a base to meet and exchange ideas.
To apply for a PMC MA/MPhil Studentship, applicants must:
- Either: have applied for or be in receipt of an offer of a place on an MA programme that enables a sustained focus on British art topics. A list of universities offering such programmes can be provided by the PMC's Grants & Fellowships Manager on request
- Or: have applied for or be in receipt of an offer of an MPhil place, to work on a British art topic
- Expect to begin their MA/MPhil studies on or around 1 October of the year in which they are granted the award (deferrals are not permitted)
- Be based in the UK (and thus qualify for Home Student Status)
The choice of institution in which to take the MA/MPhil is open. However, we require that, for MA programmes, at least one of the modules taken each term must be in the field of British art history, and any final dissertation must be on a British art topic. In the case of an MPhil, the chosen topic must be in the field of British art history. Candidates’ research interests in British art, and the expertise available at the nominated institution, need to be detailed in the application form.
The successful applicant is expected to begin their Masters programme in October 2023. Fellowships cannot be deferred to later academic years nor can they run concurrently with a Fellowship awarded by another institution.
The successful applicant is expected to begin their MA or MPhil programme in October 2023.
To apply for this studentship applicants must use our online system at grants.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk. Once registered they will be able to fill out the online application form (an example of which can be downloaded below) and provide the details of two referees.
Once the application is submitted we will contact the nominated referees with details on how they submit their references. These must be completed through our online system and must be no more than 500 words.
The MA/MPhil Studentship is offered in our Spring round of funding.
The 2023 round of funding is closed. Next round: Spring 2024.
Successful applicants must submit a 1000-word final written report within two months of receiving their MA/MPhil.
This studentship is normally expected to be a one-year award. However, should a student be enrolled in a full-time two-year masters programme, the Centre will be prepared to consider the possibility of funding them for the entirety of their course.
Should a student be intending to take a one-year masters course part-time over two years, the Centre will be prepared to consider the possibility of splitting the award over this longer period.
A list of suggested courses that are eligible for this award, other courses could be considered, please contact the Grants & Fellowships Manager if you are interested in applying with a course that is not on this list.
MA History of Art (with optional pathway in British Art), University of Birmingham
MA History of Art, Birkbeck
MA History of Art with Curating, Birkbeck
MA History of Art with Collections Management, Birkbeck
MA History of Art, Courtauld
MA History of Art, University of York
MA History of Art (Modern and Contemporary Art), University of York
MPhil History of Art & Architecture, University of Cambridge
MPhil History of Art, University of Bristol
Image: Frank Bowling, Circles for Lucas and his mum, 2015, acrylic, Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2015. © Stephen Chung / Alamy Stock Photo (All rights reserved)